 This is the first ultra-wide, rectilinear zoom lens with a minimum focal length of 8mm, designed specifically for APS-C size image sensors. The wide-angle of view from 121.2 degrees produces striking, extremely wide angle images with exaggerated perspective. It has a minimum focusing distance of 24cm throughout the entire zoom range, and an inner focusing system. Four FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass elements, which have the performance equal to fluorite glass, compensate for color aberration. One hybrid aspherical lens and two glass mold elements give excellent correction for distortion and astigmatism. The Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting and the lens lens incorporates HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), ensuring quiet and high speed AF as well as full-time manual focus capability. Only Works With: Dx sensor cameras Roger’s take: I was told this lens was just a remake of the old Sigma 12-24 for full frame cameras, but there’s more to it than that, although the big bulging front elemen will certainly remind you of it. First and foremost, lets be clear: 8mm is significant wider than 10mm so I consider this lens somewhat different than the other ultra-wides. At 8mm you can get your shoes in the picture if you tilt the lens down just a bit. Its WIDE. Its also quite sharp, especially in the center and especially at 8 to 10mm, which is probably what you’re getting this lens for anyway. More surprisingly it doesn’t have horrible barrel distortion at 8mm, which is pretty amazing. At the longer end its not quite as sharp, and at any focal length the corners and even the edges are a little mushy. Chromatic aberration is pretty well controlled too. So I’m surprised: I expected to say it was a useful lens if you really want the widest you can get, but otherwise had a lot of weaknesses, which is what I said years ago about the 12-24 full frame lens. But really this one not only lets you get ultra, ultra wide, it can compete with all the other ultra wides from 10 to 20mm too. It gives up some aperture to most of the others, but except for that its very comparable to them. And from 8mm to 10mm, well there’s no comparison at all. This isn’t the lens for everyone, many people will never shoot this wide, but if you think you might, this is a great choice and I can recommend it without reservation. Comparisons Sigma 8-16 f/4.5-5.6 is the widest (and remember, 8mm is 20% wider than 10mm, so it’s a very real difference). Not quite as sharp in the corners as the others, and lower maximum aperture, but it’s really pretty good, especially considering it’s the widest of the wide. Try and Buy Program: Lensrentals is pleased that our friends at SuperdigitalCity have made a special offer for our customers renting this item and considering purchase. Simply email a copy of your Lensrentals receipt to SuperdigitalCity and they will email you back a coupon code good for $50 off of the purchase of the Sigma 8-16mm lens. Specs:
Links:MTF Chart:
Red lines indicate 10 lines/mm; green lines 30 lines/mm. Solid lines are Sagittal, dotted lines meridional. If you are bored and don’t understand MTF charts, you can read about them HERE Lens Construction:
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